Bhutan Telecom connects far flung areas

There was much excitement as Bhutan Telecom commissioned mobile and telephone services in the dusty town of Nanglam. The services will benefit the local residents, business men, students and government officials. The telecommunication services could not be provided earlier owing to some technical and logistic issues. The provision of telecom services at Nanglam is in line with Bhutan Telecom's plan to connect Gewogs and places in a phased manner after BTL had successfully extended its cellular service coverage to all Dzongkhag Headquarters earlier this year. In addition to our constant effort to improve service quality and reduce network congestion in already covered areas, BTL is also exploring potential new areas for expansion with a view to provide access and benefit of modern day telecommunications facility to all people.
Recently, a second Micro BTS was commissioned in the centre of Phuentsholing town. This shall ease cellular service congestion along the street towards MIG cinema hall and towards Zangthropelri premises. A new BTS was also commissioned at Tshimasham. The BTS at Dechenphodrang in Thimphu was upgraded with capabilities to support GPRS and EDGE in the near future.
Works are already in progress to built roof top BTS towers in Motithang, Hong Kong market area, hospital area, pension board colony, and Lungtenphu. Similarly, BTS towers are being built at Tashigang Gompa in Thimphu to provide services along the highway connecting Dochula and Simtokha; at Begana to connect local settlement as well as areas of Tango and Chari; at Kabesa in Punakha; at Limithang in Mongar; at Tshengkharla in Tashiyangtse and at Dorikha in Haa.
With BTL’s clear endeavor to ease cellular network congestion and provide access to as many users as possible, there are immediate plans to expand the capacity of BTSs at Paro Sasham Chorten, Wangdue BTL exchange and Chimmi Lhakhang. More over surveys were carried out and BTL has identified ten new sites to provide cellular service at Dagana (Dagapela), Trongsa (Bubja), Gelephu (Surrey), Wangdiphodrang and Paro Dzongkhags.